Time controlled mechanism



Dec. 7, 1943.

J. A. L. DETERS TIME CONTROLLED MECHANISM Filed April 9. 1941 2Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 7, 1943. J. A. DETERS TIME GONTROLLED MGHANISM FiledApril 9, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 7, 1943 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE TIME CONTROLLED MECHANISM John A. L. Deters, Chicago, Ill.

Application April 9, 1941, Serial No. 387,567

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to a time controlled mechanism, and ismore particularly directed to means attachable to a clock whereby themechanism will be operated in timed relation with predetermined settingsof the clock.

Heretofore, various kinds of time controlled mechanisms have beenproposed, and in order to accomplish the desired results, special clocksWere designed to contain certain mechanism, either mechanical orelectrical, and each design varied in accordance with the mechanism tobe controlled.

It is an object of the present invention to employ a standard type ofclock and to attach mechanism thereto to be controlled thereby with theleast amount of altering, and which mechanism will not hamper or retardthe normal operation of the clock.

Another object is the provision of mechanism attachable to andcontrolled by the alarm system of a clock whereby the mechanism may beoperated at a. predetermined time.

A further object is the provision of mechanism attachable to the alarmsystem of a clock and operated upon each cycle of its turning movementsas the alarm system is released for operation in accordance with apredetermined set time; the number of operations being determined by thenumber of turns given the alarm system while Winding the samepreparatory to the setting thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a clock embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a rear view of Fig. 1, illustrating the operative mechanism.

Figure 3 is a partial detail rear view of a clock, illustrating abracket attached thereto supporting a combination switch and socket inspaced relation with the clock and with a pull chain depending therefromand attached to a crank means of the alarm system. A

Figure 4 is a side elevation of Fig. 3 with the alarm winding crankremoved to show the alarm shaft.

' Figure 5 is a partial detail rear elevation of a clock illustrating aneccentric attached to the alarm system thereof.

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional View taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2,showing a crank means attached to the alarm system.

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Figure 7 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the chain clipremovably attached to the crank means.

Figure 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional View taken on line 8 8 of Fig.5.

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the manually adjustedalarm control mechanism, taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 2.

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on line -IU of Fig. 9.

Figure 11 is an enlarged detail perspective view of a, crank meansattachable to the alarm system and formed to provide yieldable means toprevent over-winding.

Figure 12 is an enlarged detail plan view of a crank means attachable tothe alarm system and constructed to free itself from a pull chain aftera single turning operation thereof.

-Figure 13 is an enlarged perspective view of a chain fastening ring forforming a loop at the free end of the pull chain.

Figure 14 is an enlarged detail sectional view of an adjustable meanswhereby the loop may be adjusted with respect to the pull chain.

Referring more particularly to Figs. l to 4, the clock I5 is of theconventional manually wound type, and is shown as having a crank arm I6attached to the alarm shaft IGa by a hub l1 ad,- justably secured to thecrank arm by a screw I8 (Fig. 6) The crank arm l5 is preferably ofchannel formation, and is provided with an elongated slot I9 throughwhich the screw I8 passes and is threaded into the hub l1 to adjustablyposition the crank arm I6 for the desired throw thereon, and theopposite end of the hub Il is provided with a thread 20 to receive thethreaded end of the alarm shaft ISa.

At one end of crank arm I6 is secured a crank pin 2|, which is adaptedto receive a clip 22 se-` cured to one end of a pull chain 23 which hasits other end operatively attached to a combination switch and socket 24supported on the clock l5 above the alarm control mechanism A.

The combination switch and socket 24 is preferably supported on a stud25 attachable to the clock casing (Figs. l, 2, 9 and 10), and which studhas a reduced threaded end 26 that depends through an opening 2l of thecasing of the clock l 5 and is secured thereto by a washer and nut 28and 29, respectively. The upper end of the stud 25 is provided with areduced portion 3B which has an annular groove 3l therein, and whichreduced portion 3U receives the shank 24a of the combination switch andsocket 24 and with the screw 32 of the shank 24a threaded into thegroove 3l for securing the same to the stud 25.

Provision is also made whereby the alarm system also operates while thecombination switch and socket 24 is being operated. In order toaccomplish this feature, the stud 25 is provided with a longitudinalbore 33 which slidably receives an alarm lock pin 34 therein, and whichpin is provided with a slot 35 at its upper end portion and with a smalltransversely extending bore 35 near the lower end of the slot 35. Thebore 35 is aligned with a transverse elongated slot 37 provided in thestud 25 and receives a small pin 33 therethrough which extends outwardlyon each side of pin 3d and through the elongated slot 31 of stud 25.This pin 33 also extends a few thousandths of an inch outwardly on eachside of the stud 25 to be frictionally secured to a sleeve39 which isadapted to slidably fit over the stud 25, and when moved, to carry thepins 38 and 34 for vertical movements therewith to effect the engagementand disengagement of pin 34 with an arm 45 of a bell hammer 4I. Thismovement' of pin 34 will lock or release the bell hammer for movement inaccordance with the timed setting of the clock.

The arm 45 and bell hammer 4l are of the usual type employed in an alarmclock and are bodily carried for rocking movements on a pivot d2, andhave a relatively short extension i3 engageable by a wheel 44 foreffecting their movement when released to cause the bell hammer il tostrike' a bell 45.

As thus far described, it will be noted that-in order to wind the alarm,the clip 22 is removed from the pin 2l of the crank arm l5 attached tothe alarm shaft la, and this crank arm I is manually gripped and turnedthe number of revolutions desired, that is,in the type of combinationswitch and socket 25 shown, a full winding cycle of the crank arm ISwill effect a downward movement of the pull chain 23 to control theswitch for on position during its unwinding movement, whereas twowinding turns of the crank arm it will eect two downward movements ofthe pull chain 23 which is on and off position during the unwindingmovement of the crank arm i6. Likewise, an odd number of winding turnseffect a plurality of on and off positions during the unwinding turns,which ends with the on position, and an even number of winding turnseffects a number of on and off positions during unwinding which endswith the off position of the switch 24.

As above pointed out, the number of turns given the alarm shaft 25a.while winding the alarm system, predetermines the position at which theswitch 24 will remain when the alarm is exhausted, the alarm being setin the Vusual manner by positioning the alarm hand 45 to thedesired'time by the turning movements of the alarm knob 4l at the backof the clock (Fig. 2). rfhe sleeve 39 attached to the pin 34 (Figs. 9and 10) effects the release of the arm 45 to permit the hammer 4l tostrike Athe bell 45 simultaneously with the operation of the switch 24and spring 35a frictionally resists movement of pin 54.

The combination switch and socket `25 is illustrated as having anelectric lamp 43 attached thereto and which lamp is lighted inaccordance with the on and off movements of the switch, the currentbeing supplied to the lamp through the leads i5 and 5@ which areattached to a source of electric supply. The switch Zeis'preferably of atype having two outlet connections 5l-52 on each side thereof to eitherof which may be attached electrical devices to be controlled by mymechanism.

While I have illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the combination switch andsocket 24 as being carried on a stud 25, it may be carried by a bracket53 (Figs. 3 and 4) secured to a bolt 54 of the clock I5, and whichbracket has a stud 55 to which the switch 24 is secured. With this typeof bracket 53, the usual alarm control button 55 of the clock remainsintact, and the bracket isI of suicient length to render the alarmbutton 56 accessible for positioning the same to on or off position.Referring more particularly to Figs. 5 and 8, an eccentric 57 isillustrated to perform the functions of the bell crank I5, and isarranged as a pulley, being provided with an annular groove 58 toreceive the pull chain 23a therearound and which pull chain is turnedback on itself and secured to form a loop 59 by means of a chainfastening ring (Fig. 13). The eccentricv 51 is also providedwith alinger piece vEil for manually winding the alarm system and which isaccomplished without the removal of the pull chain 23a from theeccentric 5l, as the loop 59 of the chain permits the 'same to slipwithin the groove 58 of the eccentric.

The chain fastening ring 60 (Fig. 13) is preferably of tubular formationwith one edge provided with three equidistant slots a that eachterminate into a cross-slot h centrally of the Width of the ring 6U. Theloop 59 in the pull chain is formed by positioning the chain through twoof the slots 50a and with the free end of the chain positioned throughthe remaining slot 69a. As a tension is exerted on the chain 23a, itwill be caused to enter into the cross-slots o on one side or the otherof the slots 65a which vsecurely retains the chain 23a-to the fasteningring 60.

The clip 22 illustrated in Fig. 7, is of U-formationand is provided ateach of its extremities with an annular opening 62 andwith. aballreceiving opening 53V near the bent over portion thereof, and with aslotd extending from'each of the openings 52 through the opening 63.

A modified form of key 55 is illustrated in Fig. 11, and isprovided'with a hub`66 to be attached to the alarm shaft lea of theclock, the other end of the hub 55 is slotted at 57 to receive one endof a coiled key bodyv 68 which has 'a forwardly and transverselyextending finger piece 69 and a relatively small shank 'il providing acrank'center for the clip when the clipv 22is attached thereto. The clip22 is Vattached to the pull chai'nj 23 by passing a ball of the chainthrough the opening 53, and which ball is then'securely held in theU-shaped portion of the clip with? the reduced portion of the chainextending through'th slot 64 of the clip. Y

In Fig. 12. is illustrated a modified'form of alarm winding key l I-which isV constructed in a manner whereby the full chain is attachedthereto and is released from the key during acyole of the unwindingmovement of-the alarm shaft. `The key 'H is provided With a threaded hub1.2 anda crossbar 'i3 for winding the alarm, and thiscrossbar isprovided with a crescent-shaped portion I4 at one end thereof providingan annular opening 'l5 and a relatively small inwardly directed slotopening communicating therewith.""The chain 23 slidingly fits throughslot opening 150i the key and is retained in opening 15 for a partial'cycle as the key is turned during the unwinding movements oftheralarmshaft |6. During this movement, the key automatically*`disconnects itself from the chain 23 after the chain has been pulled theproper distance for eiecting the on position of the switch 24. Thedisconnecting of the chain from the key 'H is accomplished by theturning movement of the key when the reduced portion of the chain willpass through opening T6 after the chain has been pulled a certaindistance.

In Fig. 14 is illustrated a modified form of pull chain securing andadjusting means 'H which comprises an internally threaded tubular member18 which has a cross-member 19 secured at one end thereof and with aslot 80 at each end of the cross-member to which the free ends 8| of alooped chain S2 are secured. The pull chain 23h is secured to theadjusting means 'H by a split tubular collar 83 provided with a thread84 and threaded into tubular member 18. The pull chain 23h is positionedin the tubular member 1,8 which has inwardly directed lugs 85 which gripthe chain when the split collar 83 is threaded in the tubular member 18.Io adjust the pull chain with respect to the loop, it is only necessaryto turn the collar 83 in one direction or the other.

While I have illustrated means for securing and adjusting the pull chainin order to properly position the same for effecting the operation ofthe combined switch and socket, a further adjustment may be had bypivotally adjusting the combination switch on either of the studs 30 or55 by merely loosening the set screw 32 thereof and turning the same tothe proper position.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the invention provides anovel means for effecting the contr-ol of a combination switch andsocket, and the parts are always held in their proper relationship andare easily attached to the conventional type of clock without materiallyalter` ing the same.

I claim:

In a time controlled device for a clock having an alarm mechanismincluding an alarm winding shaft, the combination with an electricalswitch supported on said clock, of a switch operating transmissionbetween said shaft and said switch, said transmission including aneccentric on said shaft, a pull member looped to form a strap aroundsaid eccentric to operate said switch with each rotation of said shaft,and means to adjust the throw of said eccentric on said shaft inaccordance with the operating requirements of said switch.

JOHN A. L. DETERS.

